Medicinal treatment device



April 6, 1937. G. w. VHIPSLEY MEDICINL TREATMENT DEVICE 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 29, 1953 April 6, 1937. G. w. HlPsLEY MEDICINAL TEATMENT DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1955 w @uw Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED lSTATES iALlENr OFFICE l 3 Claims.

This invention relates to medicinal treatment devices, and more particularly, to devices for treatment of the nose, throat, and lungs.

The principal object of this invention is to pro- 5 vide an improved, small, practical, and eicient device for treating ailments and diseases of the before-mentioned parts of the body, without the annoyance and distress attending such treatments by inhaling liquid sprays or hot steam, as is the l case with many other devices. This device is designed for use in any part of the world without the need of modern conveniences, such as gas or electricity, for its successful operation; and it functions to generate a relatively dry l medicinal vapor from a liquid medicament, by passing a stream of compressed air in a novel manner through said medicament which is heated indirectly by water which is at a high temperature. Means are provided to effectively apg() ply said medicinal vapor to the affected parts.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device which permits the mixing of desired quantities of air with the medicinal vapor, and to provide a variable means of escape to the atmos- 25 phere after said vapor has passed over the parts being treated, thereby effecting a douche action.

The apparatus is also designed with a pressure limiting device which relieves the pressure by allowing escape into the atmosphere when a pre- 31) determined value of pressure has been exceeded. Such a condition may occur when an obstruction is encountered in the part of the body being treated, and this pressure limiting device eliminates the possible danger of damage to such :25 parts from an excessive pressure. The released pressure causes an audible indication which apprises the user that an obstruction has been encountered, and the proper adjustments can be made to secure the desired douche action.

These and other objects and features, as well as the construction of a preferred form of the invention, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Inthevdrawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the main parts of the device in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the device;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional 5.0 View; Y

Fig. 4 is a face view of the nozzle;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line 5--5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the noz 55 Y zle parts;

(ci. 12s-18s) Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative form of nozzle;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the same;

Fig. 10 isa sectional view taken along line illlll of Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 to 14 are perspective views of zle parts; Fig. 15 is a face view of the medicament agitating nozzle;

Y Fig. 16 is a sectional view of the same;

Fig. 17 is a perspective View of the same;

Fig. 18 is a perspective View of a stopper plug; and

Figs. 19 and 20 are perspective views of modifled nozzle parts.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 3, the device comprises a relatively small container l which is adapted to contain heated water or some other suitable heating Inedium. To the end that the container may be substantially filled with heated water during use of the device and in order that the water may be brought to a desired level, there is formed on the inside surface of the container an annular ridge or projection 2 which indicates the proper filling level. The container is constructed so as to retain the heat within the same or, in other words, to prevent heat transfer to the outside atmosphere. As illustrated, the container cornprises an outer shell 3 and an inner shell 4 between Which there is interposed suitable heat insulating material 5. There are provided on the container feet 6 and a handle l.

The container is preferably shaped as illustrated and itl is formed with a circular opening at the top thereof defined by a conical wall 8. A resilient conical Washer 9, which may be formed of rubber or other suitable material, seats snugly within theopening. A vessel lil, which is preferably formed of glass and shaped as illustrated, extends through the opening to a point near the bottom of the outer container and seats snugly at the upper 'part of the container. This vessel is adapted to contain liquid medicament, as will be discussed. hereinafter. Both the washer 9 and the upper part of the vessel' I0 are flanged, as illustrated, and the washer is' provided with annular recesses which receive annular ridges or beads formed on the outer surface of the vessel. By this construction, the vessel l0 is secured firmly to the outer container and is held in proper position with respect thereto. Also, a tight seal is provided between the vessel and the. container so as to prevent the escape of water orsteam from the container. Ihe washer 9 frictionally the no zengages the wall 8 of the container opening in the manner of a stopper and it may be withdrawn when desired, as will be clearly obvious. The Vessel I will, of course, displace some Water when it is inserted in container I, so that the water level will be as illustrated, the water substantially illing the container.

The upper open end of vessel I0 is shaped as illustrated and is also provided with a conical l0 surface II which is adapted to snugly receive a stopper I2. The stopper is provided with a central and side openings, as illustrated more clearly .in Fig. 3. The central opening is enlarged and threaded at its lower end to receive tube I3. The upper portion of the central opening is also enlarged and threaded to receive a .bushing I4. This bushing is formed to provide a valve seat against which the valve ball I5 may seat. A spring I6 is arranged below the ball to urge the same against the valve seat, the( spring being retained in position by cap I1 which is screwed into the lower end of the bushing. Thus there is provided a spring operated check valve which permits passage oiA air in one direction only against the action of spring I6 and which prevents the liquid medicament from being sucked up from vessel I0.

The upper part of bushing I4 is shaped so as to constitute a socket and to receive snugly a tapered nipple I8 carried at the end of a exible tube or conduit I9. This tube, which may be formed of rubber, is connected to a compressible bulb 22 (see Fig. 1) having an air inlet 23 provided with a check valve 24. The purpose of bulb 22 is to force air under pressure through tube I9 and through the check valve of bushing I4 to tube I3.

For the successful operation of my invention, a positive check valve is necessary, and must be 40 placed somewhere between the pressure generating means 22 and the liquid agitating member shown at the bottom of tube I3 and described hereinafter, to prevent the liquid medicament from being sucked up into the pressure generating means. The usual `method is to install an ordinary ball check at the discharge end of the pressure generating means. This method is not lentirely successful in my device, for with continued use` small quantities of liquid pass by this.

ball check. To overcome this difficulty, I designed the spring check valve I5, I6, and placed it as shown in Fig. 3, as an integral part of the apparatus, which would not be the case if it were placed at the discharge end of the pressure generating means as is ordinarily done. My arrangement makes possible the use of standard replacement parts, since tube I9 and bulb 22, which need replacing from time to time, are of ordinary construction. If the spring check valve were placed at the dischargeend of the bulb, it Would cause considerable diiculty in the replacement of the bulb, because such a valve is not common in devices of this kind. The use of the spring check valve and its particular position and integral association with the device is, therefore, a very important feature of the invention.

One of the side openings of stopper I2 is pro vided with a .bushing 25, the upper portion of which is shaped so as to constitute a socket and is adapted to receive a tapered nipple 26 carried at the end of a flexible tube or conduit 21, which, in turn, is connected to a discharge nozzle 28.

Tube 21 functions to convey the vaporous par-.

ticles of the medicament, which are formed in a manner described hereinafter, from vessel I0 to discharge nozzle 28.

The other side opening of stopper I2 is enlarged and threaded at the upper portion thereof so as to receive a pressure limiting device 29, or, alternately, the solid plug 30 shown in Fig. 18. Device 29 comprises a tubular body 3| and an adjustable screw cap 32. The lower part of the body 3|` is formed as a valve seat against which a valve ball 33 is pressed by spring 34, the spring being held in position by the cap. Cap' 32 has an aperture therein within which is mounted an audible signal device consisting of flexed apertured disks 35. These disks form a simple whistle device, such as is commonly found in toys and like articles. By virtue of the adjustability of cap 32, the valve may be adjusted to any desired pressure. When, however, the pressure within vessel I0 exceeds the value at which the valve is set, ball 33 will be raised from its seat and the pressure will be relieved. The air passing through disks 35 will cause an audible whistling sound, thereby apprising the user of the fact that excess pressure has built up in the device due to an obstruction in the part of the body being treated. When the solid plug 30 is used instead of device 29, there will, of course, be no release ofA pressure 'through lstopper I2. The solid plug, however, may be used, if desired, particularly by physicians or'other persons who would not be likely to subject the affected part of the body to 1njur1ous pressure, and the plug may also be used wfitth a modified form of nozzle described hereina er.

'Ihe lower end of vessel I0 is preferably shaped as illustrated and there is provided on the inner surface of the vessel an annular rib or projection 36 to indicate the proper level of liquid medicament contained in the vessel. It will be seen that the body of the liquid medicament which should be contained in vessel I0 during use is relatively shallow as compared with the body of heated water surrounding the vessel. As will be seen, vessel I0 is substantially submerged in the heated water and the vessel is substantially completely disposed within the outer container. The lower end of tube I3 is of bulbous conical shape. The conical portion may be formed as a separate part screwed onto the lower flared end of tube I3 as at 31. The inverted conical part is provided with a plurality of circularly arranged tangentially directed openings 39 (see Figs. 15 to 17), which'are adapted to discharge the air in a plurality of circularly arranged tangentially directed streams, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. l5. To the end that a whirling action may be obtained, the conical wall is formed so as to provide the tangential apertures 39 and indentations 38 leading therefrom. A small opening 4I isprovided at the apex of the conical part.

By virtue of this construction, the circularly `arranged air streams which are set up in the tion not only serves to break up the liquid medicament into ne vaporous particles but it also prevents the splashing of the medicament up against the stopper which would necessarily occur if thev advantage that it minimizes thevolume of the medicament which is used, thereby making an effective treatment as economical as possible. This is important when it is considered that medicaments are usually expensive. The nozzle 28 comprises two parts 42 and 43, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Part 42 is cup-shaped and has an extending central tubular portion 44 which is adapted to be inserted in the end of the flexible tube 21, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The flat circular bottom of part 42 is provided with diametrically opposite openings 45, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Part 42 is adapted to receive part 43, which adapts the device for treating the nose, or part 42 may have mounted thereon part 43a (see Fig. 20) which adapts the device for treatment of the mouth;

Part 43 consists of a shell which is adapted to i'lt snugly over the cylindrical portion of part 42 and is provided with a transverse wall 46 having apertures 41 therein which may be brought into register with apertures 45, as shown in Fig. 4. The shell-like part 43 may be rotated when mounted upon part 42 so as to bring the said apertures into register or to position them out of register. Wall 46 has a central aperture 48 through which a central discharge tube 49, formed at the lower end of tube 44, extends. The conical portion 58 of part 43 forms an annular chamber 5| about the discharge tube 49. The degree of register oi openings and 41 controls the effectiveness of the annular passage to admit air at the nozzle and to relieve pressure and permit escape of medicament to eect a douche action.

This may be more clearly understood from a consideration of the actual use of the nozzle. Initially, the annular passage 5I may be closed by proper positioning of part 43 with respect to part 42. When the outermost annular edge oi' nozzle is inserted in the nostril for treatment,4

the annular .passage is substantially closed to the outside air. As long as no obstruction or resistance is encountered by the projected vaporized medicament, the device may `be thus used. When, however, an obstruction is encountered, pressure will be built upv in the device and this will be evidenced by the action of .the pressure limiting device 29, as above described. At such time, the user may regulate part 43 to provide the desired degree of opening of the annular chamber 5I to relieve the pressure .and allow the escape of vaporized medicament to thus effect a douche action.

liianipulation lof part 43 also permits mixing of desired quantities of air with the projected me, dicament.

Part 43a, which is designed for'mouth treatment, issimilar in construction to lpart 43 butl differs therefrom in that it hasa'n extended tube 52, which may be placed inthe mouth upon the tongue. The tube may be knurled at' 53 to permit grasping the same between th teeth at that point. The operation of the device with part 43a is the same as just described.

75 In Figs. 8 to 14, there is disclosed a modii'led form of nozzle 28a which is adapted to automatically relieve the pressure at the nozzle and to give an audible indication when the pressure is relieved, to ,apprise the user of the fact that an obstruction `has been encountered. This nozzle comprises a shell 54 having spaced transverse walls 55 and 56 with apertures 51 and 58, respc'ctively. The shell carries a central tube A59 which is adapted for insertion in the end of a iiexible tube, such as tube 21, and which is internally threaded to receive a discharge tube (see Fig. 14). A pressure plate 6| (see Fig. 13) is slidably mounted upon tube 66 and is urged outward by spring 62. The shell 54 is provided with diametrically opposite recesses"y 63 which slidably receive projections 64 formed on the pressure plate. In this manner, the plate is held against rotation. The pressure plate is shaped as clearly illustrated in Figs. 9 and 13.

Shell 54 isadapted to receive an outer shell 65 which rits snugly uponshell 54 but is adapted for rotation thereon. Shell- 65 has a transverse wall 66 with apertures 61 therein that are adapted to be brought into various positions with respect to plate 6| to effect any desired degree of opening into the annular passage 68 formed about the discharge tube 60 by the conical portion 69 of shell 65. The cylindrical wall of shell 54 is provided with tapered openings 10 which are adapted to co-act with openings 1| in the cylindrical portion of shell 65, as shown in Fig. 8. By rotating shell 65, openings 1l may be brought into any desired degree of register with the tapered openings 10 to effect communication of the chamber 12 with the outside atmosphere.,y

The device is constructed so that register of openings 10 and 1I is substantially coincident with uncovering of openings 61.

When this nozzle is used, it is unnecessary to use device 29 and the solid plug 30 may, therefore, be inserted in place thereof. Initially, shell 65 will be positioned so as to close the various openings and the annular passage 68 will, therefore, be substantially closed. If an obstruction is encountered, however, and the pressure within the nozzle builds up beyond a predetermined value, the pressure plate 6I will be forced backward against the action of spring 62 by the' pressure exerted on the plate through openings 61. The pressure plate will, therefore, move away from wall 66, thus permitting the release of the pressure into chamber 12 and through the openings 58, 51. The air passing from chamber 12 through those openings will cause an audible whistling sound because of the spaced relation of the apertured walls 55, 56. This will apprise,- i the user'of 'the fact that an obstruction hasl been encountered, and shell 65 may then be rotated to effect the desired degree of communication of passage 68 with the outside atmosphere treatment of the mouth. This shell is similar to shell 65, differing therefrom only in the provision of the extended tube 13. It isadapte'd to be used in the same manner as shell 65.

The alternative form of nozzle illustrated in Figs. 8 to 14 may be attached to a separate flexible tube similar to tube 21 and carrying a nipple, like nipple 26, so that the nozzles may be changed by merely withdrawing one nipple from bushing 25 and inserting the other nipple therein. In order that the openings may be closed when nipples I8 and 26 are withdrawn, there are provided stoppers -14 and 15 attached by chains to bushings 25 and I4, respectively. This effectively seals vessel I0 during non-use of the device and prevents evaporation of the medicament or the entry of foreign particles, thereby making possible several treatments without replacing the medicament. In order that the nipples and stoppers may be positively identified for insertion in the proper bushings, bushing 25, nipple 26, and stopper 14 are provided with circular ilanges, while bushing I4, nipple I8, and stopper 15 are provided with non-circular flanges, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

'Ihe method of operation of the device is as follows: The heat insulated container I is lled with boiling water up to the ridge 2. 'I'he inner vessel I0 is mounted in the open end of container l and lled with the necessary medicament up td the ridge 36; stopper I2 being in place, the plugs 14 and 15 are moved and the hose connec-u tions made to their proper bushings. now ready to proceed with the treatment.

The nozzle 28, or the nozzle 28a, is placed firmly in the opening of the nostril, and effectively stops up the opening of same, allowing the medicinal vapor to be forced into the nasal cavity-under a l0W- pressure. The -intermittent pressing of bulb 22 forces air through the lcheck valve I5, I6 when it is discharged with a circular motion by the agitating nozzle I3, into the medicament at the bottom of vessel I0, which action causes the heated medicamentto vaporirze, after which it is conducted to the nostril by tube 21 and nozzle 28, or nozzle 28a.

The adjustable'pressure limiting device 29 is used in conjunction with nozzle 28, which device releases when a predetermined value of pressure is exceeded, and gives an audible indication (such a condition may occur when an obstruction is encountered in the part of the body being treated). 'I'he nozzle is then adjusted to allow the medicinal vapor to escape into the atmosphere after it has passed over the affected part, thereby effecting a douche action. By substituting part 43a for part 43, the medicinal vapors may be injected directly into the throat by the tube 52 which is placed in the mouth.

Operation of the nozzle 28a Vis substantially the same as described, the principal dierence being that the pressure limiting device and the audible indicator are incorporated in the nozzle itself instead of in the stopper I2 as in the other case. Blank plug 38 is used in conjunction with nozzle 28a instead of device 29.

From the illustration and above description, it will be seen that the invention provides a compact device which may be conveniently used by anyone. The device is so designed that the medicinal vapor is discharged at a temperature not greatly exceeding that of the body, thereby eliminating the danger of catching more cold after a treatment, which might happenif the v apor were very hot. Although the preferred form of the invention has been -illustrated it will be understood that various changes and modifications, particularly fas to details, .may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

We are I claim: 1. In a device for generating and injecting a.

medicament in a relatively dry vaporous form into parts of the human body such as the nose or throat; a vessel adapted to contain a relatively shallow body of liquid medicament; and means for conveying air to a point inside near the bottom of said vessel and below the surface of the medicament; said vessel and said air conveying means being formed so as to provide a relatively restricted passage therebetween below the surface ofthe medicament; said air-conveying means having a plurality of circularly arranged tangentially directed air discharge openings, which in conjunction with said passage cause a whirling agitating action of the air on the liquid medicament.

2. In a device for generating and injecting a medicament .in a relatively dry vaporous form into parts of the human body such as the nose or throat; a vessel adapted to contain a liquid medicament, said vessel having a vapor outlet opening and an air inlet opening; a discharge nozzle connected to said vapor outlet opening and adapted for direct insertion into the opening of the body being treated and designed to completely stop oi said opening from the outside air; means for supplying air under pressure to the interior of said vessel through the air inlet opening therein; a pressure relief device in communication with the interior of the vessel and responsive to pressure conditions existing therein to relieve the pressure existing Within said vessel when such pressure exceeds a predetermined value, due to astoppage of flow of the'generated vapors through the nozzle which occurs under certain conditions arising in the part of the body being treated; and means on thenozzle for preventing operation of the pressure relief device,l

said means, when operated, permitting the generatedvapors to effect a douche action within that part vof the body undergoing treatment.

3. A device for generating and injecting a medicament in a relatively dry vaporous from into f parts of the human body such as the nose or throat, without the need of inhaling said medicament into the lungs, comprising a relatively small outer container, adaptedto be substantially filled from an opening at the top, with a liquid, such as water, heated to a predetermined temperatureby an external source of heat not directly associated with the device; an open end inner vessel adapted to contain a relatively 'shallow body of liquid medicament, said vessel extending through an opening at the top of the outer container almost to the bottom of said container, and being disposed substantially entirely within said container, whereby the shallow body of medicament and a substantial part of the inner vessel are maintained at a desirable temperature' by the enveloping heated liquidv throughout the durationof a treatment; means for attachingl said vessel to said container, and for effecting a tight seal between the vessel and the container at the top thereof, said container being entirely free of any external associated heating m/eans, and serving as the only physical support for said vessel; air conveying means extending into the liquid medicament; said vessel and said air conveying means being formed so as to provide a relatively restricted passage therebetween below the surface of the medicament; said airfconveying means having a plurality of circularly arranged tangentially directed air discharge openings, which in conjunction with said passage cause a whirling agitating action of the air upon the liquid medicament; means for forcing air under pressure through said air conveying means; means for conveying vaporous particles of'the medicament from the inner vessel to the part of the body being treated; a vapor discharge nozzle connected to said vapor-conveying means and adapted for direct insertion into the opening of the body being treated and de- 10 signed to completely stop off said opening from the outside air; an adjustable pressure relief and audible signal device in communication with the interior of the vessel and-responsive to pressure conditions' existing therein to relieve the pressure and to'give an audible indication when such generated vapors to eiect a douche action within 10 that part of the body undergoing treatment.

GEORGE W. I-IIPSLEY. 

